Steel must be folded ten thousand times before becoming a sword........

The Five schools of Komuso Martial Arts.

The Komuso system is divided into five schools. Each one has its own particular area of study. Tradition names each after the five elements of Earth, Water, Wind, Fire and Void. Training in the Komuso system is not an easy path and will take many years to master. So if you are looking for a black belt in one year, the Komuso System is not for you.

	Training with TKS
Overview Training in The Komuso System is a blend of ancient wisdom and modern sports science theory. The martial arts and philosophical base are as relevant today as they were 2000 years ago. The training has been carefully designed to enable students to achieve their full potential in a safe and positive environment.  Suitable for all age ranges Komuso develops good fitness & health, self confidence/control and provides a safe way to learn self defence technique. Juniors have different needs to older pupils and this is catered for with a separate syllabus which culminates in a junior black belt grade.  This takes less time to achieve and does not teach the more dangerous techniques. The full syllabus teaches students to utilise the whole body and calm state of mind to defend themselves from much larger and even multiple aggressors.  With an emphasis on a complete awareness of opponents, the system aims to blend with opponents actions and capitalise on their weaknesses in order to gain victory.
Martial Arts Ý
The Komuso System emphasises a keen awareness and understanding of others and the environment. Its philosophy is based on equality of all and training begins and ends by showing respect to each other.  Students and instructors form a circle in order to bow.  There is no separation or obvious rank order as it is felt that all members can learn from each other. Training then takes the form of line work, bag/pad work, partner practice and form work. Techniques are practised first in a line or ordered group.  Usually no calls are made, rather the instructor leads the practice by example or a student is asked so the instructor may observe.  The techniques are not practised against an opponent at this stage. Bags or pads might then be used to increase stamina, focus and correct distance.   The use of pads also develops power of delivery, confidence in technique and helps prevent joint injury. Great emphasis is placed on the Bunkai or application of technique and is practised with partners.  This develops good coordination and helps juniors to learn cooperation.  Practising martial arts technique against a partner also requires self control and discipline. Finally formwork is the practice of set patterns of martial techniques designed to impart particular knowledge to practitioners.  All of the forms contain specific knowledge of one or more aspects of the martial arts.  Form work develops stamina, coordination, control and self discipline.
Exercise Ý
In order to protect oneself the development of a strong body and mind is necessary.  Apart from the practice of technique, which is exercise in itself, every lesson begins with a workout. Designed to achieve high levels of performance, both in daily life and for training, the routine involves aerobic and anaerobic exercise.  Especially chosen callisthenic exercises are mixed with yoga like stretching and toning exercises to give a complete body workout. The routine is suitable for all age groups and fitness levels and exercises are both safe and effective.  Komuso promotes a nurturing environment aimed at developing students potential.
Meditation Ý
Practice of Komuso requires mental toughness, focus, awareness and a calm state of being.  Several meditative practises are utilised in order to enable pupils to acquire these mental/physical attributes. Meditation is often used to prepare for training or to contemplate the lesson at the end.  Students who participate in this practice fully soon reap benefits and although it is not mandatory it is recommended. Additional Aspects to Training Weapons Þ Fight Training Þ Combat Þ Other Martial arts Þ Instructor training Þ

Earth school – 9th Kyu to 1st Dan Ý

The first school in the tradition teaches an uncompromising system of combat and self development. You will train in all combat ranges from grappling and trapping to short arm and long arm boxing. Belt gradings in this school start from complete beginner and culminate in a black belt award.

There are ten intermediate stages between these two points, each achieving a different coloured belt and each thoroughly testing your abilities. As you progress so the demands upon your skills increase. Both the knife and long sword are taught during the final stages of the earth school and emphasise practical methods of use/defence against these formidable weapons.

The Komuso system utilises a number of combat simulation styles from full to semi contact. Combat is based upon formwork which lays down the fundamental principles of the system. You will be taught how to apply these in real confrontation and assessed upon how well you utilise these principles in a “live” situation.

The development of Mind, Body and Spirit is the foundation upon which practice is performed. Your instructor will constantly assess your training needs and will work with you to develop your practice. This will include a full fitness training programme enabling you to improve your body condition. Together with meditation/relaxation and positive visualisation techniques the Komuso system gives you a more complete approach to life and the martial arts.

When you achieve your Black belt you will be able to face every situation with confidence and dignity. Secure in the knowledge you can deal effectively with whatever occurs.

The Water School – 2nd Dan Ý

Once you achieve your Black belt this is not the end, rather it is the beginning. The next three schools are specialisms focussing on particular areas of Komuso practice.

The water school takes all the principles of the earth school and distils them into a simpler more fundamental format. It deals specifically with balance. You will learn to develop an increased sensitivity to both the balance of others, whilst developing un-interruptible balance within your own Mind, Body and Spirit.

Again the school is based on formwork. The first form is performed without a partner and develops increased awareness of your centre. The second and third forms are performed with a partner and give you a developed sense of your partner’s movement and weaknesses in their posture.

Techniques such as push, push up, push down, yield, yield and push replace striking techniques from the Earth school.

Achieving a 2nd Dan will take your practice to new heights of understanding and self awareness. Again this is not an easy option and will make demands upon you, testing your ability beyond what you might think possible. By this stage you will have been well prepared and more than able to step up to the challenges presented.

The Wind school – 3rd Dan Ý

The way of the warrior. The wind school deals with the unseen. There are no forms to practice or physical techniques to perform. The school teaches the craft of the warrior. You will learn strategies for combat, methods of movement and concealment ways of approaching situations in order to gain a positive outcome without the need for confrontation.

The Wind school deals with the Mind. You will learn meditative technique for calming, centring and focussing. Emptiness is the way of this school you will be expected to demonstrate a way of being rather than becoming.

In combat you should appear un moved and free of ego. There should be no striving in your approach more a calm confidence and a knowing. The Komuso system is about developing the self, taking your abilities and expectations further and being total in your way of life.

The Fire School – 4th Dan Ý

At this point in your development you will be well versed in much of the system. The fire school looks to distil practice further, increasing your knowledge and improving your abilities.

The striking of vital points and use of pressure points will have been learnt within the Earth school. The fire school takes this knowledge to new levels of understanding.

You will train to locate weakness in your opponents. Understanding the way the body works and to instinctively locate problem areas. Learning first, how to heal and then the alternative, you will investigate acupuncture meridians, joints, pulses, bones, ligaments, cartilages veins and arteries. Working closely with your instructor you will learn the correct times of the day for application as well as methods for striking, tearing and breaking.

The techniques and principles contained within this school are obviously highly sought after and are only passed on to those who posses a suitable character. As such your instructor will constantly assess your suitability to learn these techniques and principles.

There is no single test for achievement of 4th Dan you will be constantly assessed during lessons. Those who are not ready to learn will need to return to their normal practice. Your instructor will invite you to train for the grade again when they are convinced you have developed sufficiently in the system.

The Void – 5th Dan Ý

The final grade acknowledged within the Komuso System is 5th Dan. If you are looking for a system that promises hundreds of Dan grade certificates the Komuso system is not for you.

This grade is achieved through diligent training and commitment to the system of Komuso. You will be tested in all of the schools and be able to demonstrate the principles, philosophy and abilities attributed to someone at the top of their craft.

Only once you have faced all the challenges of training, developed your practice and can unify mind, body and spirit as a natural part of your being can you expect to be tested for this grade.

The final school is not an end of learning rather a timeless personal journey without end. The Komuso system is a complete way of being, of self development and discovery. Free of ego or agenda the system exists for those who wish to live life a little less ordinary.

Weapons Training Ý

Training with weapons is an integral part of the system and begins with the knife and the sword. Weapons are used to re enforce principles of unarmed combat and self development. If you were looking to learn how to use weapons for some illicit purpose then we suggest you seek help of the kind that comes in white coats.

Mastery of weapons can be practiced alongside your other training or as a separate study in its self. Once you have gained your 1st Dan you can elect to study weapons in place of unarmed methods. The Dan grade system will apply none the less. Instead of applying the principles of each school in the unarmed arena you will set them in the context of the weapons studied.

Weapons training will always begin with sword and knife however you will learn short stick, Jo, Bo, spear and walking stick, short chain, long chain, nunchaku, three sectional staff, throwing weapons and every day items, as part of your study.

It is likely you will specialise in a single weapon, but knowledge of the others is required for you to progress fully through the system. Ultimately the weapon of choice must become part of your being and as ever the focus will be on the unification of mind, body and spirit through practice.

Fight Training Ý

Fight training is an essential practice for Komuso practitioners.  It helps to develop balance, coordination and proper timing and control.

There is no competition in practice.  Good techniques or ability are recognised between participants or by the instructor.  No-one is the winner in fight situations and so victory is not celebrated.

The focus during fight training is self development through diligent training.  Komuso aims to develop an indomitable spirit and inner strength.   This does not mean that training is not hard or that participants do not strive to overcome the many difficulties associated with this type of training.  Proper attitude and exertion are encouraged as is the development of practical fighting skills.

The training can be divided into;

• Attack combination practice – short, intense, attack practice which teaches continuous alertness, the ability to attack no matter what has come before, as well as building spirit and stamina.

• Defence Combination practice - participants learn to use many defence techniques against a receiving partner.

• Sparring practice – participants are allowed to practice any of the techniques learnt in either semi – contact, continuous sparring sessions or Embu.

• Gokaku-Geiko: sparring practice between two practitioners of similar skill level.

• Hikitate-Geiko: sparring practice where a senior practitioner guides a junior student through practice.

Protection

Body armour, head guard, shin and foot protection as well as hand protection must be worn during fight training to protect participants from injury.

(Students without the correct equipment will not be allowed to spar.)

The wearing of body protection requires the help of a partner to put on correctly.  This encourages cooperation, compassion and prepares students mentally for the training session.
 

Combat Forms and Styles Ý

Semi contact Sparring – medium to long distance sparring partners train to strike at vital areas delivering controlled strikes that would otherwise harm the opponent.  Semi contact sparring should be stopped each time an opponent lands a successful finishing technique and then resumed in order to acknowledge the victory.

Light continuous sparring – medium to long range sparring partners wear protective clothing and light contact is made.  Sparring is performed continuously for a set time and no acknowledgement of victory is shown.

Embu - Embu is an expression of fighting techniques where one partner is the attacker and the emphasis is on the defender utilising timing, distance and technique to defeat the aggressor.

Short arm boxing – Is a style of embu which focuses only upon the use of hands in attack and defence.

Long arm boxing – Is a style of embu which allows the use of both hands and feet in attack and defence.

Kime Embu – or holding the advantage is an embu that teaches practitioners to retain the advantage of timing and distance in order to never allow the opponent any opportunity for attack or defence. This embu is also used to teach practitioners to steal the advantage from opponents.

Five Animal form styles Ý

Tiger boxing – An Embu that utilises techniques and principles from the Tiger form to defeat or restrain the opponent. Tiger boxing is a tough grappling/striking art that makes use of throws locks pressure points and strikes.

Crane boxing – allows partners to practice the principles and techniques from crane form to defeat an opponent. Crane form uses large flowing techniques and seeks to smother the opponent and strike at vital points.

Monkey boxing – allows partners to practice the principles and techniques from Monkey form to defeat an opponent. Monkey form is characterised by jumping, rolling, ducking and climbing to attack or defend.

Snake Boxing – allows partners to practice the principles and techniques of Snake form. The snake form teaches practitioners to wait for the opponents weakest moment and strike suddenly at their weakest point.

Dragon boxing – A completely free form that enables pupils to utilise any of the principles of embu or combat, its aim is to develop the principle of technique, mind and body becoming one.

Chi Sau - Practised as both single arm drills and double arm free form, Chi Sau is practised to develop sensitivity to a partners movements. The emphasis is to blend with the partners movement, body position and read their intention.

Practising other Martial Arts Ý

The Komuso system has always welcomed input from other systems of practice. Doubtless through the ages all arts are blends or adaptations of other systems. As part of your self development it is beneficial to see practice from other view points. For the system to remain “alive” and relevant it needs new blood and this means accepting ideas from others.

The Komuso system is a constantly evolving entity, with an uninterruptible spirit, free from ego or agenda, we should seek to harmonise and not oppose.

Instructor Training Program Ý

To be eligible to train as a Komuso system instructor you must be a Brown belt or above and to have passed your stage three fitness test.

To be a Komuso system instructor you will need to have an in depth understanding of the fitness training system, a developed understanding of the syllabus and the ability to pass on the system to pupils in a relaxed and calm manner.

There are four stages to becoming a Komuso system instructor;

Fitness and Exercise Coaching Certificate

Martial Arts Coaching Certificate

Meditation and Visualisation Coaching Certificate

Once you have passed all three stages you can train for the full licence. You will not be authorised or insured to teach a class unless you hold a;

Full Komuso System Instructors License

A 1st Dan Black belt Grade.

Juniors can become Junior Martial arts coaches and will be able to help teach other juniors in the class until they are 18 and complete the full licence.

The fitness and exercise coaching certificate requires you to study lesson planning, theories of learning, learning styles, Exercise methodology, Anatomy and physiology, Acupuncture meridians, Qi Gung and First Aid they should also acquire ten hours teaching practice with three observations.

The martial Arts coaching certificate will require you to study technique breakdown, demonstrate excellence when performing technique, body language for instructing, lesson planning, class leadership skills, behaviour management, learning styles and show a clear understanding of form work applications and principles. (Requires a further ten hours teaching practice with 3 observations)

The Meditation and Visualisation coaching certificate will require a developed understanding of visualisation and relaxation techniques, Micro Cosmic orbit, five organ classic, Chakra meditation, Kuji No In meditation, Buddhist and Taoist methodology. (Requires ten hours teaching practice and three observations)

Finally your full licence must be applied for no later than one year after completing the last coaching certificate. The test will require a further ten hours of teaching practice with juniors and seniors and six lesson observations observed by fully licensed instructor all to a satisfactory level. Applicants must then submit a portfolio containing all their work for each certificate complete with 12 lesson observations. To teach as a Komuso System instructor you should also obtain a CRB check from the local authority.

The instructor training program is designed to ensure the quality of teaching and learning throughout the system (Cost to be arranged).

To register your interest or for an information pack email info@thekomusosystem.co.uk or select the contact us link.      Ý